Journal box closure means



May 16,1944.Y E, S P-RCE` 2,348,843

JOURNAL BOX CLOSURE MEANS Filed July 24, 1941 Patented May 16, 1944 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 2,348,843 .i'oUnNA'L Box oLosUnE MEANS Edwin S. Pearce; Indianapolis, Ind. Application July 24, 1941, serial No. 403,793 's claims. (ol. aos-45) This invention relates to journal boxes for railway axles and particularly to an improved closure means therefor.

Before describing the invention I desire to point out that the conventional journal box lid is a relatively heavy, substantially rectangular piece of metal which is generally hinged at the top to a suitable lug or boss on the box. It is generally equipped with a spring which reacts between the hinge point and the lid to keep the latter in its closed position. This old and rather well-known construction is subject to a number of disadvantages, not the least of which is breakage or weakening of the spring necessitating frequent replacement. Perfectly tight closure of the box opening is also hard to obtain due to the fact that the position of the lid is always controlled to a greater or less extent by its hinge joint, so that unless the bearing surface around the opening in the box is accurately adapted or machined to cooperate exactly with the hinge and the lid, the latter may not come into actual uniform contact with all parts of the bearing surface'around the opening so that small cracks or crevices are left through which dirt can enter the box. In addition, this old type fact that after opening of the lid and inspectionof the box, the lid is generally pushed suddenly in the direction of its closed position after which i1; slams shut with considerable force and the development of a great deal of noise, the latter being particularly objectionable at night on passenger trains equipped with sleeping cars.

With the foregoing in mind the principal objects of my invention will be more fully appreciated and understood. These are the provision of a journal box closure means in which the hingle mechanism is entirely separated from and made independent of the closure member proper so as not to compromise the design of either in order to have it properly cooperate with the other; to eliminate entirely the closure retaining function of the hinge spring so as to reduce` the duty required of this spring and, therefore, reduce breakage and the necessity for frequent replacement; to provide a construction of the character described by means of which a tight closure can be maintained quite independently of the relationship which may exist between the hinge and the lid seat around the opening in the box; to markedly reduce the Weight of the lid proper as -Well as to eliminate the fluttering action which is characteristic of present day lids; to provide a hinge member which is independent of the lid proper, including means for holding the hinge in any desired position of adjustment and particularly for holding the hinge in a fixed position adjacent to but clear of the box opening for a purpose which will appear more clearly hereinafter; to provide a closure means which can be manipulated by the operator in the same manner in whichpresent day conventional lids are operated except that slamming of the lid in closing is prevented as above stated; to eliminate to as great an extent as possible the necessity for opening and closing the lid; to provide a lid which projects inwardly into the box so as to avoid all danger of its being struck by passing objects; to provide a. closure means which makes it possible to employ a transparent plastic lid through which the condition of the interior of the box may be observed so as to avoid unnecessary opening and closing of the box; to eliminate useless consumption of time and labor in making routine inspections; to provide a closure means having the advantages herein disclosed which can be substituted for the closure means heretofore in use without the necessity for otherwise reconstructing or replacing conventional journal box equipment; and, in general, to improve journal box closure construction so as to cheapen the cost of manufacture, lessen the service expenses and increase the efficiency and durability of the mechanism as well as of the parts associated therewith.

How the foregoing objects, together with such other objects as may appear hereinafter or are incident to my invention, are attained is illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure l is a partial front elevation of a journal box equipped with my invention with a portion of the mechanism shown in section, as per the line I-I in Figure 2; and

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

'Ihe drawing illustrates the outer end of a journal box 3 equipped with the customary opening 4 and hinge boss 5 at the upper outer edge.

Within the hinge boss is a Asteel bushing 6 which is also a part of the conventional equipment. This bushing, however, is frequently badly Worn and out of round so that, in applying my improved closure device, I prefer to insert within the bushing 6 a rubber bushing 'I which will compensate for wear, as well as aid in silencing unnecessary noise.

A pair of tubular members or bushings 8 adapted to t snugly within the rubber bushing 'I are each provided at one end with a collar member 9 which is welded thereto. These tubular members are pushed into the rubber bushing 1 until the collars 9 abut against the hinge boss 5, .one tube being pushed in from each end of the boss, as clearly shown in Figure l.

A Y-shaped hinge member Ill having hub-like portions II of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the collars 9 is pivoted on the boss 5 by means of 'the pivot pin or bolt I2 having a nut I3 threaded on each end. Within each hub member II is a pair of diametrically opposed openings or passages I4 in each of which ils/located a ball catch or latch l5 with a spring I6 and a follower nut I'I.

The outer faces of the collars 9 are provided with complementary pockets or depressions into which the balls I5 are adapted to project. The hinge is assembled by first retracting the nuts Il in order to relieve the pressure on the springs Ii whereupon the balls I5 can be withdrawn into the openings I4. The hinge member I is pivoted to the boss by applying its hub members II over the ends of the collars 9 and then inserting the thimbles I8 which have a diameter correspending to the sleeves 9. The thimbles are long enough to project slightly beyond the ends of the hubs II and at the same time contact the ends of the sleeves 9, as indicated in Figure l. Finally, the bolt I2 is slipped into place and the nuts I3 applied so as to draw up snugly on the thimbles I9 which, of course, serves to press the collars 9 rmly against the ends of the hinge boss 5, the sleeves 9 being just short enough so that their inner ends do not come into contact. In this way the collars 9 can be firmly held in a, fixed position relative to the hinge boss so that, in eiect, they become a part of the hinge boss 5 insofar as operation of the closure mechanism is concerned. After the pivot pin I2 with its nuts I3 have been installed, the nuts i Il can be turned down .so as to force the balls I5 outwardly against the collars 9. The pressure `which they exert against the' collars 9 creates sumcient friction to hold the arm Il) with its lid in any desired position of adjustment, as will appearmore fully hereinafter.

. Howeventhe arm Ill can be held in a xed position by moving its free end downwardly toward the opening in the box until such time as the balls I5 project into the recesses in the c01- lars 9, whereupon they will catch or latch the arm I0 in a fixed position immediately adjacent to the box opening but just clear thereof, as shown in Figure 2. Similarly, if adjacent parts of the car structure permit, it is possible to latch or catch the arm I0 in a completely open position by rotating it 180 upwardly until such time as the balls l5 again enter the sockets in the members 9.

I will now describe the lid or closure member proper. 'I'his consists of a suitably molded plastic member I9, which is preferably transparent. This is inwardly bent or bowed, as shown in Figure 2, to projectinto the opening 4 and is provided with a ilange portion adapted to bear against the rim or bearing surface of the -box opening. Extending horizontally at substantlally the center of the back of the lid I9 is a channel member 2I which may be held in place by a pair of rivets 22.

On its under side the hinge arm I0 is slotted as at 23, and in this slot I mount a leaf spring 24, the ends of which extend toward the lid I9 and fit into the channel 2|, the tips 25 of this spring being upwardly bent so as to catch behind the cotter pins 26 passing through the flanges of the channel. The central portion of the spring is held in the slot 23 by means of the bolt and nut construction 21, the bolts 2'I just touching the under edge of the spring 24 in order to accomplish this.

In assembling the lid I9 on the arm I0 the lid is rst placed in position over the opening 4 and then the arm I0 is pushed toward it until the spring 24 is about half compressed, after which the cotter pins 26 are slipped into their holes and secured in place. The hinge arm can now be moved away from the opening until it is fixed in its position by the ball catches I5, as already described.

It will be seen that my closure means is exceedingly simple and can be very readily applied to existing journal box equipment simply by removing the conventional lid heretofore in use, but without in any way rebuilding or re-designing any part of the box, By making the lid I9 of very light construction weighing, for example, in the neighborhood of three ounces as against about ten pounds for the ordinary lid on a journal box equipped with a 51/x10" journal, the mounting spring 24 can be exceedingly light since the only force which is required of it is that which is necessary to hold the light lid I9 ilrmly against its seat. Furthermore, the mass of the lid I9, as compared to the weight of the hinge arm, is so small as to render the closure substantially unaffected by vibrations in service due to unevenness in track conditions, etc. All fluttering or vibration of the lid I9 is thus avoided, which has not been possible heretofore with any previous lids with which I am familiar. Furthermore, the lid I9 is free to accommodate itself to any irregularities in the contour of the opening 4, since it is quite independent of the position of the hinge member I0 and also because of the slightly resilient character inherent in the plastic material of which it is made. The hinge member Ill can be relatively heavy so as to provide a firm reaction point for the spring 24, although even the hinge member itself need not be anywhere near as rugged in construction as has been customary with journal box closures heretofore known in the art.

The hinge member I 0 is held in the position shown in Figure 2 just clear of the box opening by virtue of the locking balls I5 which react be. tween the hinge boss and the hubs II through the intermediation of the collars 9, as alreadyY described. When opening or closing the lid exactly the same motions are employed as have heretofore been required with lids of convenf tional design, although when closing the lid slamming and noise are completely eliminated with my improved construction because the operator must push the arm down until it assumes the position shown in Figure 2. Wear and tea-r arethus greatly reduced.

By making the lid I9 of transparent plastic material it is possible to inspect the contents of the box without the necessity of opening and closing the lid. This greatly reduces the time and labor necessary for routine inspections and again saves wear and tear on the device because it is never necessary to open the lid except when observation indicates that the bearing or waste requires attention. Many additional advan tages will occur to those skilled in this art.

I claim:

1. Journal box closure means comprising a hinge boss, a hinge member pivoted thereon, means reacting solely against the hinge boss for holding the hinge member in a fixed closing position adjacent to but spaced from the rim of the box opening, a lid member of relatively light weight carried by the hinge member with the rim of the 11d clear of the hinge member, and means reacting against the hinge member to press the lid member against the box.

2. Journal box closure means including in combination with the usual hinge boss, a lid carrying member hinged on the boss, means reacting solely against the hinge boss for holding said member in a xed closing position adjacent to but spaced from the rim of the box opening, and a closure lid resiliently mounted on the carrying member with the rim of the lid clear of the carrying member.

3. Journal box closure means including a hinge member pivoted on the box, means for holding said member in a fixed closing position .adjacent to but spaced from the rim of the box opening, a' closure lid of plastic material of relatively little mass, and means reacting against the hinge member to press the lid against said rim, the rim of the lid being clear of the hinge member.

vried by said hinge member with the rim of the lid clear of the hinge member, and resilient means reacting against said hinge member to press the lid against the box while the hinge member is held in said iixed position.

5. For the opening of a Journal box, a plastic closure lid, van independent hinge member, means for holding the hinge member in a iixed closing position adjacent to but clear of the rim of the box opening, and a lead spring having its ends connected to the lid and its central portion mounted on the hinge member, said spring being adapted to support the lid with its rim clear of the hinge member `and to press it againstoits seat on the rim of the box opening.

6. In a journal box having a hinge boss, the combination of a hinge member pivoted on the boss, a closure lid resiliently mounted on the hinge member, and means including friction means reacting between the boss and the hinge member independently of the lid, which friction means is adapted to hold the hinge member in positions of adjustment other than the position where the box is closed by the lid, and said means also including latch means for holding the hinge member in a fixed position of adjustment adjacent to but clear of the box opening but where the box is closed by the lid, said resilient mounting for the lid reacting against the hinge member to press the lid against the box when said hinge member is in said position of adjustment adjacent the box opening.

7. The structure oi' claim 6 wherein the lid isv made oi plastic material of relatively-light mass in comparison with the mass of the hinge member.

8. Journal box closure means including a hinge member pivoted on the box, resiliently member and a portion of the box structure, said latch means being adapted to hold the hinge member in a position closely adjacent to but spaced from the rim oi.' the box opening and normally ilxed as against movement either toward or away from said rim, a closure lid, and resilient means reactingl between the hinge member and the lid to press the latter against the rim of the box opening, said lid being of relatively little mass as compared to the mass of the hinge member.

- EDWIN S. PEARCE. 

